By Kazeem Ugbodaga
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on world leaders to show unity, courage, and long-term commitment in addressing the escalating global climate crisis, stressing that urgent action is required—not later, but now.
Speaking on Wednesday during a high-level virtual dialogue on climate and just transition, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to driving a new development model where climate action and economic growth go hand in hand.
“The global climate emergency demands our collective, courageous, and sustained leadership. For Nigeria, the urgency of this moment is clear: we view climate action not as a cost to development, but as a strategic imperative,” he stated.
The virtual dialogue, co-hosted by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was convened to accelerate international climate ambition ahead of COP30, scheduled to be hosted by Brazil.
Seventeen countries participated, including China, members of the European Union, climate-vulnerable nations, and regional blocs such as the African Union, ASEAN, and the Alliance of Small Island States—sending a unified signal: climate action is advancing at full speed.
Joining the session from Abuja, President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP), which outlines a realistic path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
The plan targets five key sectors—power, cooking, transportation, oil and gas, and industry—with an estimated investment need of over $410 billion.
“We are, therefore, in the process of aligning our regulatory environment, fiscal incentives, and institutional frameworks to ensure that energy access, decarbonisation, and economic competitiveness proceed in lockstep. We are also taking leadership on Energy Access,” he said.
He noted Nigeria’s strategic role as an anchor country in the “Mission 300” initiative—developed in collaboration with the World Bank and African Development Bank—aimed at delivering electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030.
Referencing his participation in the Dar es Salaam Declaration and Nigeria’s National Energy Compact, President Tinubu outlined the country’s commitment to reforms, investment, and measurable energy access targets.
“This compact is among the first of its kind in Africa and lays out our policy reform commitments and specific investment opportunities in the energy sector. It sets quantifiable targets to grow electricity access and increase clean cooking penetration.
“We are working to build capacity and ensure that we meet these targets, reflecting not just our ambition but also our commitment to deliver on that ambition measurably,” he added.
As part of broader energy sector reforms, he announced that Nigeria had finalised its Carbon Market Activation Policy in March 2025.
The policy is projected to unlock as much as $2.5 billion in high-integrity carbon credits and green investments by 2030.
President Tinubu also revealed that Nigeria is updating its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in accordance with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), with a revised strategy due by September 2025.
“Our climate strategy is not limited to planning and regulation — it is also rooted in market reform.
“We are working to position Nigeria as a premier destination for climate-smart investment through the development of a Global Climate Change Investment Fund, which will serve as a platform to blend public and private capital, de-risk green infrastructure, and finance clean energy solutions at scale,” he explained.
The proposed fund will support national priorities such as green industrial hubs, e-mobility, regenerative agriculture, and renewable energy mini-grids for underserved communities.
President Tinubu expressed appreciation to international partners, especially the United Nations and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), for their technical and advisory support.
“These partnerships are a shining example of the value of multilateral cooperation in climate delivery. We are prepared to collaborate, lead, and deliver — because we understand that the time for climate action is not tomorrow; it is now,” he concluded.
